Most people think of goose liver as either an oddity or a delicacy–especially when consumed as foie gras.
What most people don’t realize is that goose liver is one of the healthiest foods on earth and offers numerous health benefits.
Goose liver provides complete proteins and healthy fats, and it’s loaded with essential vitamins like retinol (vitamin A) and B vitamins and trace minerals like iron and copper. Many of these nutrients are only found in meat.
Let’s explore the nutrition and benefits of this under-the-radar superfood.
One thing to keep in mind is that the nutritional properties of goose liver are much different than when it’s raised as foie gras.
Normal goose liver has much higher concentrations of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). While foie gras is remarkably rich in anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fatty acids and healthy saturated fat.
The benefits of goose liver derive from its nutrients, so let’s take a closer look at how these key nutrients can benefit your health.
100 grams of goose liver pate has 369 mcg or 308% of the DV of the crucial but under-appreciated vitamin K2.
This makes it the number one source of vitamin K2 in food.
Vitamin K2 activates other vital nutrients like vitamin A and specific proteins that play roles in blood clotting, calcium metabolism, and heart health.
K2 is so potent that it works in relatively low doses–so you can get it from duck liver without having to supplement. [1]
The K2 in goose liver can support heart health by reducing calcium build-up in the arteries, as well as the kidneys. [2] [3] .
This is no small feat, considering arterial calcification is one of the biggest heart disease risk factors. [4] [5] [6] .
In one long-term study spanning 7–10 years, people who consumed the highest amounts of K2 were 52% less likely to develop artery calcification. Not surprisingly, these participants demonstrated a 57% lower risk of mortality from heart disease. [7]
Another large-scale study following 16,057 women found that those with the highest K2 intake had far less risk of heart disease. For every 10 mcg of K2 a participant consumed per day, their heart disease risk dropped by a whopping 9%! [8]
It is important to note that in both studies, vitamin K1 (the version in plants) had zero benefits.
Yet, because of a plant-based bias in the nutritional community, controlled trials exploring the benefits of vitamin K have only been done on k1. [9]
Osteoporosis means “porous bones,” and it’s extremely common when consuming a standard American diet low in K2.
Among traditional cultures that prize organ meats high in K2, osteoporosis is virtually non-existant.
K2 in goose liver reduces the risk of osteoporosis by activating the proteins osteocalcin and matrix GLA. These proteins bind calcium to bones and teeth. [10] [11]
A study of 244 postmenopausal women (at the highest risk for osteoporosis) found that K2 significantly reduced the rate of bone mineral density loss. [12]
Seven Japanese studies have found that supplementation with K2 reduced all non-spinal fractures by 81%, hip fractures by 77%, and spinal fractures by 60%. [13]
Cancer is another “disease of civilization” that occurs at high rates in Western cultures and extremely low rates amount traditional cultures that consume foods high in vitamin K2.
More research is needed, but preliminary studies suggest that K2 may be effective at reducing the risk of certain cancers.
Clinical trials have shown that K2 reduced the recurrence of liver cancer while increasing survival time [22]. [14] [15]
An observational study of 11,000 men revealed that the participants who consumed high levels of K2 had a 63% lower risk of advanced prostate cancer. In this same study, K1 (from plants) showed no effect. [16]
With 900% of your RDV of Vitamin B12, goose liver is a highly concentrated source of this essential vitamin, only slightly behind duck liver and beef liver.
It’s worth noting that you don’t have to worry about getting too much vitamin B12. Your body will simply eliminate the excess in your urine–which is why it can become bright yellow when supplementing with B vitamins.
Your body will also store some of it in your own liver for access when needed–even years later. [17]
B12 is essential to numerous important physical functions, including:
Numerous studies have found that consuming higher levels of Vitamin B12 offers significant improvements for depressive symptoms. [18]
In addition to K2 above, B12 is another cardioprotective compound. Studies show that vitamin B12 can decrease homocysteine levels associated with heart disease. [19] [20] [21]
B12 is a nutrient mostly found in meat, so it can be hard to get for vegans and vegetarians. [22] Signs of B12 deficiencies include [23] [24] [25] [26] [27] :
You may have heard of Beta Carotene–a Vitamin A precursor found in plant foods that are often referred to as vitamin A. However, it is far less bioavailable–useful in the body–compared to the preformed Vitamin A found in duck liver. [28]
At 1034% of your RDV of vitamin A per 100 grams, goose liver comes in at number four on the list of highest vitamin A foods.
It’s important to highlight that vitamin A in goose liver comes in the form known as retinol. This form of vitamin A is far more bioavailable than the provitamin A that comes in plant foods.
In fact, your body can absorb between 75 and 100% of retinol. But can only use 1/26th of the vitamin A carotenoids in plants.
For example, sweet potatoes are listed as providing 204% of your RDV in vitamin A, but actually, only supply 8% of your vitamin A needs. [29]
Furthermore, a full 45% of people have a genetic mutation that makes it essentially impossible to convert vitamin A from plants into useable compounds. [30]
The vitamin A in goose liver serves numerous physical functions, including [31] [32] :
A 100-gram serving of goose liver provides 170% of your RDV of iron.
Duck liver provides a highly absorbable type of iron called “heme iron.”
Heme iron plays an important role in supporting immune function, cognition, and energy metabolism. [33]
Goose liver is one of nature’s most abundant sources of dietary copper, providing 376%% of your RDV per 100 grams.
This mineral is critical to various processes, including [34] :
Zinc is a relatively rare mineral, so 20% from a serving of goose liver is a significant boost to your RDV.
Like the other vitamins and minerals highlighted above, the zinc from animal foods is far more absorbable than zinc from grains. In fact, it’s 400% more bioavailable. [35]
Furthermore, if you eat grains that contain phytic acid, you’re actually blocking out zinc which can lead to mineral deficiencies.
Getting enough zinc is important for heart health, insulin formation, and can increase glycemic control for diabetics. [36] [37]
Zinc deficiencies can affect motor development and cognitive development in children.
Low zinc levels in men are associated with erectile dysfunction and lower sperm count in males.
Goose liver provides 93% of your selenium per 100 grams goose liver.
Selenium plays an important role in various functions, including:
Though standard goose liver is relatively low in fat, foie gras is loaded with monounsaturated fat.
Studies show that consuming this anti-inflammatory fat may reduce the risk of heart disease. [45] [46]
You can also let go of any fear about the saturated fat in foie gras. Modern studies show that saturated fat is in fact, part of a healthy whole foods diet. [47]
The fat in foie gras makes it extremely satiating, reducing the risk of snacking and helping high-fat, low-carb eaters kick their carb addictions. [48]
The traditional way to make foie gras requires force-feeding geese with corn so that their livers become enlarged with fat.
The liver for foie gras is around 10x larger than normal. [49]
This fatty liver is usually consumed as the delicacy known as pâté de foie gras. But it is also consumed fried and raw.
New York and California have banned force-feeding to enlarge the liver. [50] [51] But France still considers the practice an important part of their gastronomic culture and refuses to outlaw it. [52]
If you’re concerned about animal welfare but still want to enjoy foie gras, there are producers who are adopting methods that do not require force-feeding.
The easiest way to prepare goose liver is with a simple pan sear.
Three ingredients and ten minutes of prep are all you’ll need to unlock the benefits of eating this ultra-nutritious food.
Goose liver pate is most often made from fatty foie gras, but you can also use standard duck and chicken liver.
This simple duck liver pâté recipe requires only 6 ingredients:
Instructions:
Goose liver is an exceptionally nutrient-dense food.
A single serving of goose liver provides an array of hard-to-get and highly bioavailable nutrients, including vitamin A, numerous B vitamins, selenium, and iron.
Goose liver is also the food with the highest concentration of vitamin k2, which activates numerous other vitamins and proteins to provide their optimal benefits.
Foie Gras, the extra fatty version of goose liver, is one of nature’s richest sources of anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fatty acids.
The nutrients in goose liver work synergistically to provide various health benefits, including supporting a healthy heart, immune system, cognitive function, and fertility.
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